Silverdale Training Guide

Keep things calm and quiet. Your puppy has just left the only family they've ever known, so resist the urge to invite friends and neighbours over straight away — give them three or four days to settle first.

Set up a small 'puppy zone' with their crate, water, a few toys, and an easily wiped floor. Carry them outside to the toilet spot every hour or so, and especially after sleeping, eating, or playing.

Sit on the floor with them rather than picking them up constantly. Let them come to you. This builds trust from day one.

Take your puppy outside to the same spot every 45–60 minutes during the day, and always after meals, naps and play. The moment they go, praise warmly and offer a tiny treat.

Accidents are not naughty — they're a sign you missed a window. Clean with an enzymatic cleaner (not bleach) so the scent doesn't linger and invite a repeat.

Most Goldendoodle puppies are reliably clean indoors by 16–20 weeks with consistent routine. Night-time accidents typically end a few weeks later.

Think of the crate as a den, not a punishment. Feed meals inside it with the door open, scatter treats in there throughout the day, and add a soft blanket that smells of you.

Build up time gradually: a minute, then five, then twenty, always returning before they panic. A bored chew toy or stuffed Kong helps enormously.

Never use the crate to 'wait out' crying caused by needing the toilet. If they cry within an hour of the last toilet break, take them out calmly — no fuss, no play — then back to bed.

This is the single most important period of your puppy's life. Aim to introduce them to something new — sights, sounds, surfaces, people, friendly dogs — every single day.

Carry them around the village, sit outside a café, let them watch traffic from a safe distance, run the hoover near them, drop a saucepan on the kitchen floor (gently!). Pair every new thing with a treat.

Avoid the temptation to keep them wrapped in cotton wool until vaccinations are complete — controlled exposure in your arms or a sling is invaluable.

Name → look at me. Say their name once, treat the instant they look. Repeat ten times a day in different rooms.

Sit. Hold a treat above their nose, slowly move it back over their head. As their bottom touches the floor, mark with 'yes' and treat.

Down. From sit, lower a treat to the floor between their paws and slide it slowly out. Mark and treat the moment their elbows touch down.

Come. Crouch low, open your arms, say 'come!' in a happy voice, and reward generously every single time — never call them to something they dislike.

Settle. On a designated mat, reward calm behaviour with quiet praise and a long-lasting chew. This becomes their off-switch for life.

Start lead training in the garden, not on a busy road. A flat collar or Y-shaped harness is kindest — avoid retractable leads in early training.

When they pull, simply stop walking. The moment the lead goes slack, take a step forward. It feels painfully slow for the first week, then it clicks.

Keep first walks short — five minutes per month of age is a good rule of thumb. A tired puppy is a happy puppy, but an over-walked puppy can damage growing joints.

Goldendoodle coats need lifelong maintenance. Begin handling paws, ears, tail and muzzle daily from week one — just a few seconds at a time, paired with treats.

Brush little and often (5 minutes a day) with a slicker brush and metal comb, working right down to the skin. Matting forms underneath an apparently fluffy coat.

Book your first groomer visit at 16 weeks for a 'puppy introduction' — bath, blow-dry, and a tidy. This sets them up for a stress-free lifetime of grooming.